Regardless of your frame, build or height, accumulation of fat in our abdominal area is common. There are many names for abdominal fat such as, belly fat, pot belly, jelly belly, spare tyre, bulge, and muffin top. Abdominal fat accumulation can be a confidence breaker and on a more serious level, it can lead to diseases. Labeled as visceral fat, it can be dangerous because it’s this fat that’s metabolized by the liver, turning it into cholesterol and circulating it through the blood. This results in a plaque build up and narrowing of the arteries. This leads people to suffer heart disease, diabetes, stroke and hypertension.

It’s also said that your body decides where to put fat and where to remove it. This process is determined by your genetics. Well, that’s what they say. If they’re right I can see the belly fat coming from my mother and father’s side. It’s also a combination of your gender and age. Men tend to store fat around their middle (apple shape), whereas women typically store fat around the pelvic region, hips, butt and thighs (pear shape).

Some health studies from Yale University show that abdominal fat can develop as a result of stress. This is because the hormone cortisol is released during stress, and a high level of cortisol in the body appears to stimulate the storage of fat around the belly and abdomen. If you already have a fat belly, one good option is to follow a healthy weight loss diet, combined with fitness exercises such as aerobics (to burn extra calories) and a stomach-toning workout to help tighten and strengthen abdominal muscles.

Remember there’s no diet-plan or type of exercise that can “target” your fat stomach. If you are prone to store fat around your middle, the healthiest solution is to maintain a normal weight. By matching your calorie intake to your calorie needs and prevent weight gain, you will prevent the development of any excess fat.Lose your belly fat in the fight against diseases:

• Exercise regularly to lose visceral fat.
• Develop a balanced diet
• Reduce your levels of stress that can induce in overeating.
• Figure out if your genetics are determining if you’re likely to develop visceral fat easier.
• Avoid smoking and drinking.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 at 8:01 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.